The Mole

Police work is a paramilitary occupation. Uniforms, rank, weapons, discipline…It can be exciting and interesting for some and boring for others. Some officers seem to find lots of action during their career (or maybe it finds them) while others never use their sidearm except for target practice and hardly do much more than help children cross streets. This seems to describe my position. I have become completely unimpressed with my job and hardly felt cut out for this line of work. I’m a very peaceable person.
My name is Tim delGado. I’ve been in public safety for seven years…too long…and feel locked in since this is the only job I’ve had since finishing college. And I now question my career selection. Trouble is, I am good at this job. I am good with people, and I excelled in the department’s expectations such as marksmanship, physical endurance, police tactics, and many others. On the record, I am considered a good cop with potential. So why do I feel I want to give it all up?

It was the beginning of my next shift, this time working days. I had just finished the graveyard shift and was coming off a three day rest. I was in the squad room changing into my uniform, followed by the routine inspection of my personal equipment. My badge, name tag, service pin, a utility belt loaded with all the required police paraphernalia…baton, handcuffs, keys, pepper spray, flashlight, rubber glove case, radio clip, spare magazine case, and sidearm. Nine pounds of junk around my waist. All in order…Well, it helped keep me slender hauling it around everyday. But it did little to enhance my arms or shoulder muscles.

I had safety checked my 9mm automatic for proper operation and was loading a full ammo clip into it when I heard my name being called on the paging system.
"Tim delGado…Officer Timothy delGado…please report to Captain Tom Cook’s office."
Captain Cook was the officer in charge of the Patrol Division’s day watch. My first day shift and already I’m being paged. I wondered what he wanted.
I knocked twice, and entered the captain’s office to observe two men sitting there chatting like old friends. They halted their conversation and shifted their attention to me.